Self-locking plug and jack type electrical connector



Aug. 27, 1963 F. LYMAN, JR 3,101,986

SELF-LOCKING PLUG AND JACK TYPE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed June 10. 1960 lFlG.8

INVENTOR. FRANK LYMAN, JR.

BYW WeW ATT'YS.

longitudinal flat surfaces 23, on the sleeve at either side of the notch extending into the hollow inner space of the sleeve, and terminating at both ends in essentially fiat transverse surfaces 21.1, 21.2 as at 22. The diameter of the sleeve is reduced, as at 24, at the location of the sleeve notch for purposes to be described below.

A pair of keys 26.1, 26.2 of chordally segmental configuration corresponding to the sleeve notch are fitted side-by-side within the sleeve notch or cutout so that these keys rest with their flat inner faces on the flat surfaces 20 of the notch and so that the central portion 28 of each key extends into the hollow inner space of the sleeve. The flat transverse end faces which essentially fit the transverse surfaces 21.1, 21.2 of the sleeve are indicated at 21.5, 21.6.

A pair of split-rings 30.1, 30.2 of resilient material are fitted around the reduced diameter portion of the sleeve and around respective keys 26.1, 26.2 for biasing the keys normally to rest within the inner space of the sleeve. As shown in FIG. 3, since the rings are fitted around the reduced diameter portion of the sleeve, there will be no tendency of the rings to be displaced from the keys.

The plug unit 4 of this connector has a body portion 32 and a cylindrical pin portion 34, and is provided with terminal means (not shown), preferably at a location opposite the pin portion of the plug. The plug terminal means can be of any conventional type for connecting the plug unit in an electrical circuit. They can, but

face 38.1 of the pin notch.

As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the plug pin can be inserted within the sleeve of the jack unit through the open end of the sleeve, whereby the tapered end 36 of the pin will successively engage each key 26 and will wedge each key from within the inner space 13 of the jack sleeve to the extent necessary to permit the plug pin to pass beneath the two keys. When the pin has been inserted in the sleeve a sulficient distance so that by the taper 44 as the pin notch passes beneath the key. The shoulder 42 of the pin notch will engage the innermost key 26 and will thereby lock the plug and jack unit together preventing withdrawal of the plug from the jack sleeve. The outermost key having been wedged When separation of the plug and jack units of the connector is desired for breaking the electrical connection therebetween, the plug is rotated relative to the jack unit around the cylindrical axis of the plug pin as shown in FIG. 4. Since the pin notch smoothly intersects the separation of the plug and jack unit by rotating the plug a quarter turn relative to the jack unit.

In FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of this invention is illustrated. The jack unit is shown to comprise a sleeve portion 8.1 notched as at 16.1 in the manner described above. A single key 26.3 of chordal segmental configuration corresponding to the sleeve notch is fitted within the sleeve notch and is biased to extend within the hollow inner space of the jack sleeve by a pair of split-rings 30.3-3tl.4.

The plug unit of this embodiment has a cylindrical pin portion 34.1 which is provided with a peripheral notch 38.1. The side of the pin notch nearest the tapered end 36.1 of the pin provides a shoulder 42.1 which is substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the pin, and the notch has a tapered bottom 44.1 which extends along the pin axis smoothly to intersect the peripheral surface of the pin. The notch otherwise extends transversely of the pin axis as described above with respect to the embodiment of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and smoothly intersects the peripheral surface of the pin at either transverse side 40.140.1 of the notch.

When this plug pin is inserted within the jack sleeve, the key 26.3 is first wedged from Within the jack sleeve according to this invention. The jack unit is shown to comprise a sleeve portion 8.2 notched as at 16.2 in the manner described above. A single key 26.5 of chordal a split-ring 30.5. p

The plug unit of this embodiment o the invention has a cylindrical pin portion 34.2 which is provided with a peripheral notch 38.2 and which corresponds to the plug unit shown in FIG. 1.

contact.

.It should be understood that, although specific embodiments of the connector provided by this invention have been shown for the purposes of illustration, this invention plug notch for locking the plug and the jack unit includes all modifications and equivalents which fall together in electrical contact and the other spring within the scope of the appended claims. ring will bias the key against the plug notch for 1 claim: electrical contact and whereby, when the plug is 1. A self-locking plug and jack assembly comprising: 5 rotated within the sleeve portion, an edge of the a jack unit having a sleeve at an end, said sleeve having a that surface of the plug will wedge the key from portion of smaller outer diameter spaced from the open within the hollow inner space of the sleeve portion end thereof, and said sleeve having a chordal segmental against the bi of the spring rings for permitting notch in said smaller diameter portion which extends separation of the plug from the jack unit. within the hollow inner space of the sleeve; a pair of keys 3, A self-locking plug and ja k assembly comprising: of chordal segmental configuration disposed in said sleeve j k it h i a le ve ti n o en t one end, Heleh in Y- relation, Said y being adapted said sleeve portion being provided with a chordally to extend within the hollow inner space of said sleeve; segmental cutout h i fi t .ld imdi 1 id a cylindrical P adapted to fit Within the Sleeve, Said faces, extending into the hollow inner space of the P having a ehefdahy Segmental heleh Whieh is Spaced sleeve portion, and terminating at both ends in essenfrom the end of the plug and which is adapted to receive i il fl t transverse u f n of saidkeys, said notch extending transversely of the two keys fitted within said sleeve portion at said cutout, plug axis and smoothly intersecting the peripheral surhaving i e flat face means adapted to fit said face of the P at either Side Of the notch; and a P side surfaces of the sleeve portion, the keys conof split-rings fitted around the smaller diameter portion t ti h th nd terminating in e enti lly of the Sleeve and around respective y biasing Said fiat transverse end faces adapted to fit said transverse keys normally to extend within the hollow inner space urfa e of h Sleeve ti of said sleeve; whereby, when the plug is inserted within a plug adapted to fit within said sleeve portion and the sleeve with the notches aligned, said one key will h i a notch i h a h d u segmentat 11 1; be biased into the P Belch for locking the P and face adapted to fit said inner face means of the key l unit tOgether and the other y will be biased near the plug tip and adapted to lie essentially in against the P for holding the P and Sleeve in eleethe plane defined by side surfaces of the sleeve porr a C and whereby, when the P is rotated in tion, said notch terminating towards the tip of the the sleeve, the peripheral surface of the plug at the side h i h a transverse h 1d adapted to fit the 0f Said notch Will Wedge Said one key from Within the corresponding transverse face of said tip key and hollow ihhe! sPaee of the Sleeve for Permitting P extending into an outwardly tapered surface; and ration of the plug and jack Imittwo circumferential spring means for biasing said keys A Self-locking P and l assembly Comprising? for normal confinement within said cutout of the a jack unit having a sleeve portion open at one end, Sleeve i Said Sleeve Portion being Provided With a ehefdehy whereby, when the plug is inserted in the sleeve porsegmental cutout having fiat longitudinal side SUI- :tjg with the plug notch and the sleeve cutout in feces, eXtendihg into the hollow hlher Space of the alignment, the tip key will be biased into the plug sleeve Portion, and tel'minatihg at both ends in esseh' notch for locking the plug and the jack units together tiallv fi transverse Surfaces; in electrical contact and the other key will be biased a key fitted within said sleeve portion at said cutout, 40 for holding the plug and the sleeve in electrical having inner fl t means d p te fi said side contact and whereby, when the plug is rotated withsurfaces of the sleeve portion, and terminating in i the sleeve portion, an edge of the flat surface essentially flat transverse end faces adapted to fit f the plug will wedge the tip key from Within the a d transverse SUI-faces 0f the Sleeve P hollow inner space of the sleeve portion against the a P adapted to fit Within Said Sleeve Portion and bias of the pressure means for permitting separation having a notch with a chordally segmental flat surof the plug from the jack unit.

face adapted to fit said inner face means of said key and slightly tapered in axial direction, said notch References Cited in the file of this patent terminating towards the end of the plug with a trans- UNITED STATES PATENTS ffgff iggffg fjz g f cmespondmg 2,221,651 Pelz Nov. 12, 1940 Y, an a pair of circumferential spring rings for biasing said 2513305 Gagmer et July 1950 key for normal confinement within said cutout of 2843832 {Bret/Filmer July 1958 the Sleeve portion; 2,869,099 Robinson Ian. 13, 1959 whereby, when the plug is inserted in the sleeve por- 5 FOREIGN PATENTS tion with the plug notch and the sleeve cutout in 565,420 Canada Oct 28 1958 alignment, onespring ring will tilt the key into the 

1. A SELF-LOCKING PLUG AND JACK ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A JACK UNIT HAVING A SLEEVE AT AN END, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A PORTION OF SMALLER OUTER DIAMETER SPACED FROM THE OPEN END THEREOF, AND SAID SLEEVE HAVING A CHORDAL SEGMENTAL NOTCH IN SAID SMALLER DIAMETER PORTION WHICH EXTENDS WITHIN THE HOLLOW INNER SPACE OF THE SLEEVE; A PAIR OF KEYS OF CHORDAL SEGMENTAL CONFIGURATION DISPOSED IN SAID SLEEVE NOTCH IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, SAID KEYS BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND WITHIN THE HOLLOW INNER SPACE OF SAID SLEEVE; A CYLINDRICAL PLUG ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN THE SLEEVE, SAID PLUG HAVING A CHORDALLY SEGMENTAL NOTCH WHICH IS SPACED FROM THE END OF THE PLUG AND WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ONE OF SAID KEYS, SAID NOTCH EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE PLUG AXIS AND SMOOTHLY INTERSECTING THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE PLUG AT EITHER SIDE OF THE NOTCH; AND A PAIR 